Jet control



Oefn 9, 194s.

H. T. COSS Er AL JET CONTROL Filed March 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ,from 77 oss.

T PC- DAMINER 2 Sjxeets-Sheet 2 JET CONTROL CROSS REFERENCIFY H. T. COSS El AL Filed umhl i7, 1942 Ama/wr Peu r Juf/rch' RELAY Suf/rch' M Rss. Y 5@ u mcaw R o mor A MEA n 4 mm C 'Il Patented Oct. 9, 1945 JET coN'rRoL Harold T. Coss and Gale 1. Pearee, Somerville, and George A. Downsbrough, Princeton, N. J., assignors to Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationMarch 17, 194`2, Serial No.*435,116

1 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for flberizing a stream'of molten material and, more particularly, to an automatic apparatus for maintaining the relative positions of a fiberizing jet and the molten material stream so that the jet will be impelled directly against the stream notwithstanding changes in position of the latter. The invention finds a principal eld ofv use in the manufacture of mineral wool and will be described in this connection.

Conventionally, mineral wool is produced by Y .melting a suitable raw material, such as natural 'Heretofore, means have b'een proposed for adiustment of the nozzle to position the same to direct the flberizing blast directly against the stream of molten material to obtain efficiency of iiberization. Such means have, however, been subject to the disadvantages attending a manual operation; for example, the time lag between the observance of a disturbance of the proper relationship between the stream and jet and the correction of the same by adjustment o f the nozzle, and the necessity of constant attention on the berizing operation.

'I'he principal object of the` instant invention is the provision of an apparatus for automatically adjusting the relative positions of the molten stream discharging means and the jet nozzle to insure impingement of the jet or blast on the stream, irrespective of changes in position o f the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, as referred to, employing means such as photo-electric cells responsive to radiations from the molten stream to control the operation of an adjusting means.

The invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to the more detailed description thereof Which is to fol.-

the general hook-up of the control apparatus of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a Adetail view on an enlarged Vscale illustrating diagrammatically a portion of the apparatus and including' a partial wiring diagram therefor.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, an apparatus is illustrated comprising a furnace Il) for melting the raw mineral wool forming material, such as slag, rock er mixtures thereof. The furnace illustrated is of the cupola type, but it will lbe understood that any other suitable furnace, such as a tank furnace, is equally as applicable to the instant invention. The molten material is discharged from the cupola, preferably onto a stream splitter or like trough l2 as conventionally employed. The trough is supported by any suitable means -as diagrammatically indicated at I3 which allows some substantial lateral and forward and backward` movement ofl the trough by the adjustment device later described. The molten material falls in the form of a stream I4 in front of a nozzle I6, from which issues a berizing jet or blast of steam or other uid 1inder pressure. '1l-he steam iet impinging against the molten material -splits or converts it into a great multiplicity of fibres and impels the fibres into a suitable blow chamber or other collecting means (not shown). l l

In accordance with the instant invention, an apparatusisprovided for automatically adjusting either the position o; the trough '|2` or of the nozzle I6 relatively to the other to maintain direct impingement of the jet on the molten stream. irrespective of changes in position or meandering of the latter which'may occur due, for example,

low and to the accompanying drawings in which:

to changes in viscosity and/or rate of flow of the molten material. In the drawings and following description, the adjusting means control the position of trough I2.` `It will be understood, however, that the apparatus operates equally well when employed to control the position of lnozzle I6, this requiring only such a'reversal of parts that the nozzle will be moved in the opposite direction to that 'in whichl the trough would be moved to effect the same adjustment.

The automatic adjustment apparatus com prises a reversing motor l 8 supported in any suitable manner and operatively connected to the trough l2 to move the same forward or backward with respect to the nozzle depending upon the direction of drive of the motor. The connection between the motor and trough comprises shaft 20, extending from the motor shaft and including a pair of universal joints 32.' Shaft 2Q has a threaded end 23 engaged within an internally threaded sleeve 24 welded or otherwise secured to trough I2. A second reversing motor 28, supported in any suitable manner, is also operatively connected to trough I2 through shaft 28 extending from the motor shaft and including universal joints 30. Shaft 28 also `includes threaded terminal portion 3| engaged within internally threaded sleeve 32 secured by welding or the like to the trough. Shafts 28 and 20 extend at substantially right angles to each other.v As4 by means responsive to radiations from the molten stream. 'Ihe control systems for the two motors are substantially identical 'and that for motor 2'5 will be described in detail for purposes of example. The control includes convex lens 34 positioned to concentrate the light radiations from the molten stream I4 to form an image 36 between a pair of mirrors 38 and |38, respectively, when the stream is in its desired lateral position with respect to the jet issuing from n ozzle I8. The position of the image 36 when the berizing apparatus is properly adjusted is illustrated ln full lines in Fig. 4. Each mirror is positioned to reflect light impinging thereon against an associated photo-electric cell 40 or |40, respectively. Each photo-electric cell forms a part of a circuit controlling one direction of rotation of motor 25. For example, cell 40 is part of a circuit (see Figs. 3 and 4) including amplifier 42,

path due to changes of viscosity, rate of ilow, the presence oi.' unmelted lumps or other obstructions or the like, the image projected by lens 34 or 52 as the case maybe will likewise be shifted. Assuming for the purposes of illustration that the stream shifts laterally, the image projected by lens 34 will be thrown either on the mirror 88 or |38, depending upon the direction of the shift, and from thence the light will be reflected tothe corresponding photo-electric cell 40 or |40,

. ,thereby setting up a current in the cell which is Figs, Iifanrdv 4..' the operation of motors I8 and 26 is controlled amplified by amplifier 42 or |42. This current energizes the appropriate relay switch and, if its flow is of. suillcient duration, energizes the time delay switch to complete a circuit controlling the operation of motor 25 in a direction to shift member l2 until the reilected image no longer impinges upon the photo-electric cell. When this occurs, the stream is again directly in front of the jet issuing from nozzle I6. 4 J

Likewise, if the molten stream moves toward or away from the nozzle to such an extent that the image thrown by lens 50 falls either onmirror 54 or |54, a current will be induced in'the corresponding photo-electric cell 55 or |56 and the circuit including such cell energized to cause rotation of motor I8 in a direction to move trough I2 toward or away from nozzle I6 until the image thrown by lens 50 again falls between the mirrelay switch 44, and time delay switch 45, the circuit when energized causing rotation of the motor to move trough I2 toward the left in Fig. 2. Similarly, cll is part of a circuit including amplifier |42, relay switch |44, and time delay switch |45, which when energized causes rotation of the motor to move the trough in the opposite direction. It will be understood `that the particular circuits employed for the motor control may take different forms. A similar control is provided for motor I8. the control comprising convex lens positioned to concentrate light radiationsV from the molten stream to form an image 52 between mirrors 54 and |54, respectively. Each mirror is placed to reflect light 4impinglng thereon against photoelectric cells 58 or |56,rrespectively.` The cells form parts of motor control circuits which, as stated above, are preferably similar in all -re-4 spects to those described and which, when energized, cause forward or backward movement of trough |2,as illustratedinFig. l. .A

In operation, the several parts of the apparatus are initially adjustedso that the stream of molten material discharged from the member I2 falls directly in front of the iluid jet issuing from nozzle I6 and close to the face of the nozzle. The

initial adjustment includes positioning of the control apparatus so that the image of the stream as formed by lens 34 lies between the pair of mirrors 38 and |38, included in the control of motor 28, and the image of the stream as formed by lens 50 lies between the pair of mirrors 54 and |54. The several circuits and the motor are connected to suitable sources of electrical current.

During the operationV ofthe ,.cupOla', in the event that the stream I4 moves from its normal rors.

The time delay switch employed in'each circuit serves to prevent what would otherwise be a substantially continual stopping and starting of the motors due to the image of small splashes and globules of molten material striking the mirrors. As will be understood, the time delay switch requires the current induced by the reilectecl light thrown on the photo-electric cells to continue for a given length of time before the switch'wlll be thrown to start operation of the motor.

The particular'circuits and the particular drive mechanisms above discussed are for the purpose 'of illustration only, and these, as well as conventional portions of the apparatus, may be modified or other conventional means for similar purposes may be substituted therefor without departing from the instant invention. Also, as previously pointed out, although the invention has been specically described in connection with the control of berization apparatus in the manufacture of mineral wool, it may be employed for other purposes where similar problems occur. l "or'ei-rarm ple, the control apparatus of the invention may be employed wherever an incandescentor molten stream must be maintained in proper alignment with respect to means rcooperating therewith. "v

Having thus described our invention in rather complete detail, it will be understood thatth'es'e details need not'be strictly adhered to but that various changes and modications will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope 'of the the subioined claims.

What we claim is: l Y 1. An apparatus comprising means for discharging a stream of molten materialr a nozzle for projecting a uid jet against said stream, means for adjusting the relative positions of vsaid streaml discharging means and said nozzle, and means jet against said stream to convert the same into a multiplicity of bres, means for adjusting the relative positions of said stream-discharging means and nozzle, and mains including photoelectric cells responsive to radiations from said stream for controlling said adjustment means to maintain the relative positions between said stream and jet, irrespective of changes in position of the stream.

4. An apparatus comprising means for discharging a stream of molten material, a nozzle for projecting a iiuid jet against said stream, means for adjusting the relative position of said nozzle and stream-discharging means, said adjustment means including a drive for eiecting a relative movement between the nozzle and stream-discharging means, and means responsive to radiation from said stream to control the operation of I said drive. y

5. An apparatus comprising means for dis-- charging a stream of molten material, a nozzle for projecting a iiuid jet against said stream, means for adjusting the relative position of said nozzle and stream-discharging means, said adjustment means including a drive for effecting a relative movement between the nozzle and -stream-discharging means, and means including photo-electric cells responsive to radiation from said stream to control the operation of said drive.

6. In a mineral wool forming apparatus, means for discharging a stream of molten material, a nozzle for discharging a steam jet against said stream to shred the same into a multiplicity of bres, means for adjusting the relative position of said stream-discharging means and nozzle, said last-named means including drives operatively connected to reversing motors, photo-electric cells positioned and arranged to become energized upon changes in position of said stream, and operative connections between said cells and said motors to operate the same upon change in position of the stream.

7. In a mineral wool forming apparatus means for delivering a. stream of molten material, a nozzle for discharging a steam jet against said stream to shred the same into a multiplicity of bres, means for automatically Aadjusting the re1- ative positions of said stream-discharging means and nozzle to cause changes in position of the stream, said last-named means including a threaded sleeve carried by said first-mentioned means, a shaft threaded in said sleeve and con- 'nected to a reversing motor for rotation thereby to move said first-mentioned means, and means responsive to light radiations from said stream for controlling the operation of said motor.

8. In a mineral Wool forming apparatus, means for delivering afstream of molten material, a nozzle for discharging a steam jet against said stream to shred the same into a multiplicity of nbres, threaded sleeves carried -by said streamof said motors. 11. An apparatus comprising means for dis- A discharging means, said sleeves extending at substantially right angles to each o ther, shafts threaded in said sleeves and connected to reversing motors for rotation thereby, and means responsive to radiations from said stream to control the operation of said motors.

9. In a mineral wool forming apparatus, means for delivering a stream of molten material, means to convert said stream into a multiplicity of Y',iilores, means for automatically adjusting the relative positions of said stream-discharging means and said second mentioned means to cause changes in position of the stream, said lastnamed means including a threaded sleeve carried by said first-mentioned means, a shaft threaded in said sleeve and connected to a reversing motor for rotation thereby to move said ilrst-mentioned means, and means including photo-electric cells responsive to radiations from said stream for controlling the operation of said motor.

10. In a mineral wool Vforming apparatus, means for delivering a stream of molten material, a nozzle for discharging a steam jet against said stream to shred the same into a multiplicity of libres, threaded sleeves carried by said streamdischarging means, said sleeves extending at substantially right angles to each other, shafts threaded in said sleeves and connected to reversing motors for rotation thereby, and means including photo-electric cells responsive to radiations from said stream to control the operation 40 tioned means, irrespective of changes in position of the stream, said adjusting means including a photo-electric cell responsive to radiations from said stream. i

12. An'apparatus comprising means for discharging a stream of molten material, means for iiberizing said stream, means for adjusting the relative positions of said stream and second mentioned means, and means responsive to radiations from said stream for controlling said adjusting means.

13. In a mineral wool forming apparatus, means for discharging a stream of molten material, means for converting said stream into a multiplicity of bers, means for adjusting the relative positions of said iirst and second mentioned means, and means responsive to radiations from said stream for controlling said adjusting means, to maintain said second mentioned means in operative relationship to said stream irrespective of meandering of the stream.

14. An apparatus comprising means for discharging a stream of incandescent material, means for cooperation with said stream to convert said stream into fibrous form, means for adjusting the relative positions of said rst and second mentioned means, and means controlled by light radiations from said stream for controlling the operation of said adjusting means.

HAROLD T. COSS. GALE T. PEARCE. GEORGE A. DOWNSBROUGH. 

